Possible Summer 2008 Projects
Virtual Reality
Robotics
fractals
The following descriptions of the research projects which will likely be conducted this summer. The
exact projects carried out will depend on faculty interest and the background of the selected students.
Potential Virtual Reality projects include:
-
VR as a therapeutic tool for children with motor impairment: This on-going project is studying the
potential of VR as a tool to assist therapists in training children with cerebral palsy or other
motor impairments in the use of their arms and hands. Summer research will continue the development
of a game that will permit children to interactively play while simultaneously practicing movements
desired by the therapist. Software to capture and analyze movement data may also be developed.
-
Development of a game -- and supporting software -- to use a force feedback device, to assist
children in developing fine motor skills, such as are needed for handwriting.
Potential robotics projects include:
-
VR programming of a mobile robot: This project will explore the use of robots as assistive devices
for children with mobility problems. Possible research for this summer includes developing
software for use by the on-board sonar and camera for safe control of the robot; incorporating
hardware needed for permitting a child to "drive" the robot; and implementing collaborative robot
control software.
Potential fractal analysis and visualization projects include:
-
Connectedness of Three-dimensional Fractal Tree Canopie: sUsing point sampling in the canopy,
this project uses graph theory and computational topology to determine those tree growth parameters
that lead to connectivity. This project involves the simulation of fractal trees, generation of
canopy data, and the analysis of topological data.
-
Golden Ratio Scaling in Three-dimensional Fractal Trees: This project investigates the various ways
in which symmetric fractal trees scale with the golden ratio, and with other related ratios. In
particular, this project focuses on the structure of the canopy under these scaling ratios.
All VR and robotics projects require a knowledge of C++. Experience with computer graphics, VR, or
robotics is helpful.
